HRH Princess Marie
Marie Agathe Odile, Her Royal Highness Princess of Denmark, Countess of Monpezat, was born on 6 February 1976 in Paris, France.
The Princess’s parents are Alain Cavallier and Françoise Grassiot, married on 14 June 1975, subsequently divorced. Alain Cavallier is the former co-owner of an advertising agency and has retired. Françoise Grassiot is the owner of the hotel “Chateau de la Vernède”. On 7 November 1987 she married Christian Grassiot, financial adviser. The Princess has four half-brothers, Benjamin and Gregory Grandet, both born in Switzerland, and Charles and Edouard Cavallier, both born in Paris. Like the Princess, all four half-brothers grew up in Paris.
Prior to marrying HRH Prince Joachim, Princess Marie was a French national and belonged to the Roman-Catholic Church. In connection with the marriage, the Princess joined the Evangelical Lutheran Church and became a Danish national.
Wedding
On 24 May 2008, Marie Cavallier married HRH Prince Joachim of Denmark and, in connection with the wedding, became HRH Princess Marie, Countess of Monpezat. The wedding ceremony took place in Møgeltønder Church, and the wedding banquet was held at Schackenborg Manor.
Children
HH Prince Henrik Carl Joachim Alain, born on 4 May 2009.
Education and Business Background
The Princess attended primary school in Paris in the years 1981-1989. In 1989, the Princess moved to Beau-Soleil International Boarding School in Villars, Switzerland, and stayed at the boarding school until upper secondary examination in June 1993.
The Princess studied international business and economics at Babson College, Boston, Massachusetts, USA (1995-1997) and economics at university in Genève (1994-1995). The Princess has a Bachelor of Arts from Marymount Manhattan College, New York (1997-1999).
During the years of study, the Princess worked at Estee Lauder’s in Paris as an assistant to the public relations manager in the summer of 1994, and in the summer of 1997 as an assistant to the managing director of ING Numismatic Group SA in Genève, Switzerland. In addition to pursuing university studies, the Princess taught French.
After having completed university studies, the Princess worked at the advertising agency DoubleClick Inc. in New York as international marketing coordinator. In 2002, the Princess moved back to Paris and worked in the press department of the French advertising agency Media Marketing.
In 2004, the Princess became an assistant to the managing director of Reuter’s financial news agency Radianz in Genève. From January 2005 and until the marriage to Prince Joachim, the Princess worked as executive secretary in ING Numismatic Group SA.
Language
The Princess’s mother tongue is French, and the Princess speaks English, Italian and Spanish. In connection with the Royal wedding, the Princess has started taking lessons in Danish.
Residence
TRH Prince Joachim and Princess Marie reside at Schackenborg Manor in Møgeltønder and at Amalienborg Palace.
